 John Stromblad |
At the shelves of any supermarket, there are rows of milk, fruit juices, coffee, wine, and even soju packaged in brick-shaped cartons. Take a peek at any carton’s bottom and you’ll find a small triangle logo with the words Tetra Pak.
Tetra Pak is perhaps one of the most ubiquitous products in the world, with more than 145 billion packages sold in 2009. But not many might know the Swedish food processing and packaging solutions company has been producing tetrahedron- and brick-shaped cartons for liquid food since 1952, and has been in Korea since the 1970s.
``Korea is a market of major importance for us. It is now a mature, well-established market, but still with challenges, such as the demand for new packaging. This is an environment we thrive in and we are ready for these new challenges,’’ Tetra Pak Korea President John Stromblad told The Korea Times at his office in Hannam-dong, Yongsan, Tuesday.
Tetra Park first came out with the first Tetra Pak design, the tetrahedron-shaped cartons now known as Tetra Classic, in 1952.
The most popular product is still the Tetra Brick, but the consumer demand for diverse packaging has resulted in new products such as Tetra Prisma, Tetra Top and Tetra Wedge.
``We wanted to find a solution to use less packaging materials in order to minimize costs, be more environmentally friendly and reduce the impact on the environment,’’ Stromblad said.
Tetra Pak products were first introduced in Korea in 1972, while Tetra Pak Korea was established in 1983. Since then, it counts some of the biggest Korean milk and beverage companies, such as Maeil, Lotte Chilsung, Namyang, Korea Yakult and Dr. Chung’s Food, as its customers. In 2009, over 1 billion Tetra Pak packages were sold in Korea.
Soy-based drinks are a key segment for Tetra Pak in Korea, reflecting Koreans’ preference for healthy beverages.
If you’ve ever wondered why soy milk in Tetra Pak brick cartons does not need to be refrigerated, it’s all thanks to Tetra Pak’s aseptic technology.
Tetra Pak pioneered aseptic processing liquid food packaging combined with ultra-high-temperature processing (UHT), which kills all the bacteria in the food and keeps it safe, fresh and flavorful for at least six months, without refrigeration or preservatives.
As a single source supplier, Tetra Pak offers its customers complete processing, packaging and distribution lines, and after service. ``When a customer comes to us, it’s not just a one-off deal. It’s for the long term,’’ Stromblad said.
As a company that produces billions of these cartons every year, there are concerns about its carbon footprint. But this issue is addressed with Tetra Pak’s environmental policy that consists of four R’s: renewing, reducing, recycling and responsibility.
Stromblad emphasized that Tetra Pak packaging is made of a renewable resource: paper. The company only sources paper from mills that have a sustainable forest policy.
Reduction of carbon emissions is another priority of the company, which makes sure all of its equipment is energy efficient. It is on track to achieving its goal of reducing C02 emissions by 10 percent in 2010 from 2005 levels.
Tetra Pak also encourages recycling of its carton packages. It works closely with the Korea Paper Carton Recycling Association, which recycles its packages into tissue and toilet paper. The association recently started a pilot program in Yeoungdeungpo district, where consumers can exchange a kilo of Tetra Pak cartons for two rolls of toilet paper.
``This is a very good idea, getting consumers to give something and get something in return. This will make them fully understand what recycling is,’’ Stromblad said.
Last week, Tetra Pak Korea and Maeil Dairy presented their green environment and sustainable management efforts at the International Climate & Environment Fair 2010 in Gwangju.
With the Korean government’s green policies and the growing eco-consciousness among Koreans, Tetra Pak is confident it can expand even more in Korea.
``Koreans demand a green society... I think the momentum is here. Our offerings are the most environmentally friendly. We think we should have a bright future here,’’ Stromblad said.
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